cfetrlj  of 
lUtrantlotto 
Jmage  attft  Ify? 
(Eonfralernitij  of 
($ur  Slaftg  offler- 
pftual  Sfcljj  attfc 
AlpJfOOOUH 


Also 

a  Jlrarttral 
of  Making  a 
Nooptta 


g>betcf)  of  tfje 

ifltraculous  image 

anb  tfje  Confraternity  of 
©ur  Habp  of  perpetual 
Help  anb  ^>t.2llpf)onsuo 

&  practical  iffletfjob 
of  Jfflakmga 
Jfrobena 


COMPILED  FROM  APPROVED  SOURCES  BY 

REV.  JOS  A.  CHAPOTON,  C.SS.R. 

PERMISSU  SUPERIORUM 

841  6  FOOTHILL  BOULEVARD 
OAKLAND,  CALIFORNIA 


COLONIAL  PRESS,  GATEWAY  BLDG.,  OMAHA,  NEBR. 


*$**$*•$**$**$*•$**$**$*  *J**J**J**J**J**$**$*,$**$*4$**|*^ •$♦♦§♦ •§♦♦$♦♦$♦♦$♦♦$♦♦$♦♦$•■ 


€>ut  ifWotfjer 
of  perpetual  Help 
^rap  Jfor 


Approbation  of  tbe  (^rbtnarp 


IMPRIMATUR 

^EDWARD  D.  HOWARD 
Archbishop  of  Oregon  City 


PORTLAND,  ORE.,  January  4,  1927 


®able  of  Contents! 

Page 

Sketch  of  Miraculous  Picture .  6 

Confraternity  of  O.  L.  P.  H . 2  8 

Aim  of  Confraternity .  30 

Membership .  30 

Advantages  .  31 

Indulgences  . 3  2 — 3  3 

A  Method  of  Making  a  Novena .  35 

Prayer  in  Spiritual  Wants .  3  8 

Prayer  in  Temporal  Wants .  38 

Prayer  in  Sickness .  39 

Prayer  for  the  Church .  40 

Prayer  for  the  Conversion  of  a  Sinner.  .  42 

Prayer  for  Financial  Aid .  43 

Prayer  for  a  Vocation . 44 — 45 

Prayer  for  Conversion  of  Non-Catholics  4  6 
Prayer  for  Perseverance .  47 

Prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus  to  be  recited 
during  the  Novena .  47 

Twelve  Invocations  to  O.  L.  P.  H .  48 

Monthly  Act  of  Consecration .  50 

Act  of  Consecration  to  St.  Alphonsus.  .  51 
Litany  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help.  .  53 

Meditation  .  57 

Centres  of  the  Archconfraternity .  60 


§£>feetrf)  of  tf )t 
JWtractilous;  picture  of 
(0urHabj> 
of  perpetual  Help 

*8 


How  the  Painting  Was  Brought  to  Rome, 
and  to  the  Church  of  St.  Matthew. 

UP  TO  the  close  of  the  fifteenth  century 
this  painting  was  in  the  island  of 
Crete,  now  called  Candia,  and  was  there 
venerated  as  miraculous.  At  that  period 
a  pious  and  wealthy  merchant  who  had 
great  devotion  to  our  Blessed  Lady,  and 
was  particularly  attached  to  this  picture, 
found  himself  obliged  to  quit  the  island. 
Fearing,  on  account  of  the  proximity  of 
the  Turks,  that  the  picture  would  be  left 
to  neglect  and  oblivion,  or  perhaps  be  dis¬ 
honored  by  the  enemies  of  Christianity,  he 
resolved  to  obtain  possession  of  it,  and 
bring  it  with  him  to  Italy,  whither  he  was 
about  to  depart. 


Merchant  Diet. 


TT  WAS  not  the  merchant’s  intention  to 
settle  down  in  Rome.  He  had  already 
selected  another  city  for  his  future  domi¬ 
cile,  and  thither  he  was  to  bring  his  treas¬ 
ured  painting.  As,  however,  this  was  not 
according  to  God’s  design,  nor  the  Virgin’s 
will,  he  was  never  able  to  put  his  purpose 
into  execution.  He  fell  sick,  and  died  in 
the  friend’s  house  with  whom  he  stopped 
in  Rome;  and  thus  the  picture  remained 
in  the  Eternal  City,  to  be  for  that  city; 
by  divine  dispensation,  a  never  failing 
source  of  miracles  and  grace. 

When  the  merchant  perceived  that  all 
efforts  to  save  his  life  were  unavailing, 
and  confident  that  the  Holy  Virgin  had 
prepared  for  him  a  better  place  in  heaven, 
he  bequeathed  his  precious  picture  to  his 
host,  with  the  strictest  injunction  to  pre¬ 
serve  it  with  the  greatest  care,  and  see 
that  it  be  placed  in  some  church  and  ex¬ 
posed  to  the  veneration  of  the  faithful. 
The  host  promised  to  comply  with  his 
wishes;  but  he  did  not  keep  his  word.  The 
painting  remained  a  long  time  in  his 
house.  Although  he  himself  was  willing  to 
carry  out  his  promise,  his  wife,  who  ha'd 
taken  a  great  liking  to  the  beautiful  pic¬ 
ture,  would  not  consent  to  give  it  up.  For 
peace’s  sake  the  husband  assented;  but  the 
Blessed  Virgin  did  not  assent.  She  had 
not  sent  that  picture  to  Rome  for  the  good 


—7— 


of  a  single  family,  but  for  that  of  the 
whole  people.  She  appeared  three  differ¬ 
ent  times  to  the  husband,  and  gave  him  to 
understand  that,  if  he  did  not  fulfill  his 
plighted  word,  he  must  expect  severe  chas¬ 
tisement.  He  related  these  visitations  to 
his  wife,  seeking  to  obtain  her  consent  to 
let  the  picture  go.  But  he  prevailed  not, 
nor  had  he  the  courage  to  insist  and  send 
the  picture  away,  although  he  feared  the 
threatened  chastisement.  At  length  the 
divine  patience  was  exhausted.  For  a  last 
time  the  Virgin  appeared  to  him,  and  to 
his  horror  said:  “Thou  canst  not  com¬ 
plain  to  me;  three  times  I  admonished 
thee.  That  I  may  get  out  of  this  house 
thou  shalt  go  out  first.”  And  so  it  hap¬ 
pened.  He  took  sick  and  died  in  a  few 
days.  This  was  a  terrible,  but  a  just  judg¬ 
ment  on  the  man  who,  rather  than  dis¬ 
please  his  wife,  preferred  to  displease  and 
disobey  the  Mother  of  God,  the  Queen  of 
Heaven. 

One  would  imagine  that  the  widow 
would  now  hasten  to  do  that  for  the  omis¬ 
sion  of  which  her  husband  had  been 
stricken  to  death.  But  yet  she  could  not 
bring  herself  to  give  up  the  picture.  By  a 
strange  delusion  she  persuaded  herself 
that  the  picture  could  be  nowhere  so  safe 
as  under  her  own  roof.  And  thus  she  hesi¬ 
tated  and  waited  from  day  to  day,  till  at 
length  a  young  and  sinless  daughter  of 
hers  rushed  to  her  saying;  “O  mother! 


—8— 


I  have  seen  her  in  the  house  a  wonderful 
woman.  O  how  beautiful  she  was!  and 
her  countenance  shone  so!  And  this 
woman  said  to  me:  ‘Go  at  once  to  your 
mother  and  to  your  grandfather  and  say 
to  them,  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help 
wishes  to  be  placed  in  a  church.’  ” 

Brought  to  her  senses  by  this  appeal  of 
her  guileless  child,  the  widow  at  once 
made  up  her  mind  to  carry  out  the  will  of 
the  Blessed  Virgin.  But  before  she  put 
her  resolution  into  effect,  one  of  her  ac¬ 
quaintances,  a  wicked  woman,  who  had 
heard  of  the  affair,  called  in,  and  strove, 
by  blasphemous  reasoning  to  persuade  her 
to  retain  the  picture  and  not  to  mind  what 
she  termed  foolish  dreams  and  imaginings. 
The  wicked  woman  had  hardly  ceased 
speaking  when  she  was  taken  with  violent 
pains,  so  that  it  was  thought  she  was  on 
the  point  of  death.  This  sudden  visitation 
was  a  punishment  of  her  blasphemy,  and 
she  penitently  besought  forgiveness  and 
relief  from  the  Blessed  Virgin.  The  ever 
sweet,  good  and  compassionate  Virgin 
heard  her  prayer.  Full  of  faith  and  sor¬ 
row  for  her  sins,  the  woman  touched  the 
picture  and  was  miraculously  cured  on  the 
instant. 


• — I — 


Picture  Is  Given  to  The  Augustinians 

THIS  miracle  determined  the  widow  all 
the  more  to  hasten  to  comply  with  the 
divine  will.  It  only  remained  to  decide  in 
which  church  the  painting  should  be  plac¬ 
ed.  Our  Lady  condescended  to  make  her 
will  known,  on  this  occasion  also,  through 
the  mouth  of  the  guileless  child.  She 
appeared  once  more  to  the  little  girl,  and 
said:  “Between  my  beloved  church  of 
St.  Mary  Major  and  the  church  of  my  be¬ 
loved  adopted  son,  St.  John  of  Lateran,  do 
I  wish  to  be.”  Between  these  two  basilicas 
stands  the  church  of  St.  Matthew,  and  in 
this  church  it  was  obviously  the  will  of 
the  Virgin  that  the  picture  should  be 
placed.  The  widow  accordingly  hastened 
to  the  superior  of  the  Augustinians,  in 
whose  charge  St.  Matthew’s  church  then 
was,  informing  him  of  all  the  circumstan¬ 
ces  connected  with  the  picture,  and  of  her 
resolution  to  deposit  it  in  the  church.  This 
solemn  ceremony  took  place  on  the  27th  of 
March,  1499,  in  the  presence  of  a  great 
concourse  of  people.  On  that  day  began 
that  series  of  innumerable  miracles  and 
graces  which  for  three  centuries  our  Lady 
of  Perpetual  Help  never  ceased  to  dispense 
to  her  votaries  through  the  medium  of  this 
picture.  On  the  way  from  the  widow’s 
house  to  the  church,  a  man  whose  arm  had 
been  paralyzed  regained  its  perfect  use 
upon  touching  the  picture. 


—10' 


The  Church  of  St.  Matthew,  as  before 
stated,  stood  between  St.  Mary  Major  and 
that  of  St.  John  of  Lateran,  on  the  eastern 
slope  of  the  Esquiline  Hill.  The  ground 
on  which  it  was  built  belongs  now  to  the 
Redemptorist  Fathers  and  is  a  part  of  the 
enclosed  garden  attached  to  their  college 
of  St.  Alphonsus.  Some  of  the  ruins  are 
still  visible. 

In  the  year  1477  Sixtus  IV.  made  over 
to  the  Augustinians  the  house  and  church 
of  St.  Matthew.  Saving  an  interruption  of 
a  few  years,  from  1652  to  1658,  these  fa¬ 
thers  remained  in  possession  of  the  same 
down  to  the  year  1810.  When  the  French 
took  possession  of  Rome  and  the  States  of 
the  church,  the  old  and  venerable  church 
of  St.  Matthew  was,  by  order,  razed  to  the 
ground,  to  the  great  grief  and  scandal  of 
the  faithful,  as  well  as  to  the  detriment  of 
Christian  art,  and  the  loss  of  many  vener¬ 
able  relics  of  antiquity.  The  demolition 
was  affected  in  the  year  179  8. 

For  the  space  of  three  centuries  the 
picture  of  our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help 
hung  over  the  high  altar  in  the  church  of 
St.  Matthew,  and  not  only  in  the  begin¬ 
ning  but  all  along  down  these  three  hun¬ 
dred  years,  continued  to  be  the  medium  of 
wonderful  graces  and  miracles.  The  older 
writers  who  treat  of  Rome’s  churches, 
shrines  and  holy  things,  invariably  men¬ 
tion  the  picture  in  St.  Matthew’s  and  with 
one  accord  pronounce  it  not  only  miracn- 


—11— 


lous,  but  at  all  times  and  continuously  so, 
and  known  as  such  all  over  the  city. 

It  will  suffice  to  cite  as  witness  Cardinal 
Nerli,  whose  titular  church  was  that  of 
St.  Matthew,  and  who  lived  in  the  adjoin¬ 
ing  villa,  now  the  Redemptorist  college  of 
St.  Alphonsus.  The  cardinal  died  in  the 
year  1708,  and  says  in  his  epitaph,  com¬ 
posed  by  himself,  that  he  had  selected  as 
his  last  resting  place  his  own  titular 
church,  so  renowned  for  the  glory  of  the 
miracles  wrought  therein:  “Tituli  miracu- 
lorum  gloria  late  fulgentis.” 

After  his  return  to  Rome  Pius  VII.  gave 
the  Augustinians  in  lieu  of  their  convent 
of  St.  Matthew,  that  of  St.  Eusebius,  and 
afterwards  the  house  and  church  of  Mt. 
Mary’s  in  Posterula.  Thither  they  carried 
the  miraculous  picture,  and  placed  it  in  a 
private  chapel  in  the  monastery.  Here  the 
picture  and  its  history  passed  almost  into 
complete  oblivion,  and  when  the  lay 
brother,  Augustine  Orsetti,  the  last  surviv¬ 
ing  member  of  the  Order,  who  had  taken 
vows  in  the  old  convent  of  St.  Matthew, 
died  in  1853,  at  the  age  of  86,  there  re¬ 
mained,  perhaps,  not  a  single  individual 
who  knew  that  the  neglected  picture,  hung 
away  in  a  private  chapel  of  the  monastery, 
was  the  famous  miraculous  painting  ven¬ 
erated  for  centuries  in  the  church  of  St. 
Matthew. 


—12— 


The  Wonderful  Way  in  Which  by  Divine 
Providence,  the  Picture  Come  Into  the 
Possession  of  St.  Alphonsus’ 

Church  on  the  Esquiline 

A  PRIEST  of  the  Redemptorist  Order, 
Father  Michael  Marchi,  a  Roman  by 
birth,  was  in  his  youth,  a  frequent  visitor 
at  the  monastery  of  the  Augustinians.  He 
began  to  go  there  about  the  year  of  1840, 
and  continued  his  visit  for  a  dozen  years 
or  more.  During  this  time  he  frequently 
called  on  the  old  lay  brother,  Augustin 
Orsetti.  The  good  brother,  in  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  was  almost  wholly  blind, 
and  could  seldom  leave  his  cell.  It  was  a 
great  comfort  to  him  to  have  someone  to 
talk  to.  His  conversation  naturally  turned 
on  the  past  and  on  pious  subjects,  and  fre¬ 
quently  would  he  relate  that  the  picture 
which  was  now  in  the  monastery’s  private 
chapel  was  formerly  highly  venerated  in 
the  church  of  St.  Matthew,  and  that  a 
yearly  festival  in  honor  of  the  Blessed  Vir¬ 
gin  was  celebrated  in  thanksgiving  for  the 
wonders  she  wrought  through  the  instru¬ 
mentality  of  that  picture.  Often  would 
the  old  man  repeat,  with  a  certain  solici¬ 
tude  and  in  an  impressive  manner: “Mind, 
Michael,  our  Blessed  Lady  of  St.  Mat¬ 
thew’s  is  that  which  is  in  the  private 
chapel.  Don’t  forget  it.”  After  a  pause 
he  would  repeat:  “The  miracluous  pic¬ 
ture  of  St.  Matthew’s  is  that  in  our  private 
chapel;”  and  then  he  would  add:  “Indeed 


—13— 


it  is!  Indeed  it  is!  Do  you  understand 
me?  Ah,  it  was  indeed  a  miraculous  pic¬ 
ture!” 

In  the  year  185  5,  in  compliance  with 
the  will  of  Pius  IX.,  the  Superior  general 
of  the  Redemptorists  fixed  his  residence  in 
Rome.  To  this  end  the  Order  purchased 
the  villa  before  mentioned,  situated  on  the 
Esquiline  Hill,  between  the  church  of  St. 
Mary  Major  and  that  of  St.  John  Lateran. 
At  his  death  in  1707,  Cardinal  Nerli  be¬ 
queathed  his  villa  to  a  pious  institution. 
In  the  course  of  time  both  the  villa  and  the 
adjoining  gardens  had  become  the  prop¬ 
erty  of  the  princely  family  of  the  Gaetani. 
When  the  place  came  into  possession  of 
the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  the  villa  was 
altered  into  a  cloister,  and  beside  it  was 
built  the  church  of  St.  Alphonsus. 

Michael  Marchi  Becomes  a  Redemptorist 
TN  THE  same  year,  1855,  Michael  Marchi 
was  received  into  the  order,  and  was 
the  first  novice  in  the  new  college.  Here, 
also,  after  completing  his  novitiate,  he 
made  his  vows.  Three  or  four  years  after 
this,  the  chronicler  of  the  house  was  oc¬ 
cupied  in  the  study  of  the  circumjacent 
antiquities  of  the  Esquiline,  and,  as  he 
perused  the  different  authors,  he  came 
across  many  references  to  the  old  church 
of  St.  Matthew,  and  discovered,  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  in  this  church  there  had  been 
a  miraculous  picture  of  our  Blessed  Lady. 
He  related  his  discoveries  to  his  brethren, 


14— 


and  among  them  to  Father  Marchi,  who  in 
turn  related  all  that  he  had  learned  from 
the  old  lay  brother,  Augustin  Orsetti.  It 
was  now  known  that  the  picture  was  still 
in  existence;  but  of  its  history,  or  of  the 
Virgin’s  wish  that  she  be  honored  in  that 
picture  between  the  church  of  St.  Mary 
Major  and  that  of  St.  John  Lateran,  no  one 
seemed  to  be  aware. 

There  the  matter  rested,  until  an  in¬ 
cident  in  18  63  again  drew  attention  to  the 
miraculous  picture,  and  threw  unexpected 
light  on  the  whole  subject. 

Very  Rev.  Father  Blosi’s,  S.  J.,  Words 

TN  that  year  the  Very  Rev.  Father  Francis 
Blosi,  S.  J.,  an  intelligent  and  zealous 
worshipper  of  the  Mother  of  God,  used  to 
preach  every  Saturday  in  the  church  of  the 
Gesu,  on  the  virtues  and  glories  of  Mary. 

His  sermon  on  the  first  Saturday  in 
February  was  on  the  ancient  miraculous 
picture  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help. 
There  is  no  doubt  that  it  was  by  her  own 
inspiration  he  had  selected  the  subject. 
The  Redemptorist  Fathers  heard  of  this 
sermon,  and  forthwith  some  of  them  called 
on  the  preacher  and  asked  him  to  favor 
them  with  a  loan  of  the  manuscript.  He 
did  so  cheerfully,  and  gave  them,  besides, 
a  great  deal  of  further  information  on  the 
subject. 

We  shall  here  quote  a  few  passages 
from  the  sermon  in  question: 


—15— 


❖ 


‘It  is  my  wish  to  take  up  my  abode 
between  my  beloved  Church  of  St. 
Mary  Major  and  that  of  my  dear 
adopted  son  St.  John.” 


»»»  *  »  »  *  » -» *  »  *  ^  x*  aT.  aT.  .t.  a».  >». .t.  *t.  *  ■  ^  >«»  «■»■« ***  ***  • 


“I  shall  speak  today  on  a  picture  of  our 
Blessed  Lady  which  was  once  famous  for 
the  miracles  and  cures  wrought  through 
its  means,  but  which  for  sixty  years  past 
has  shown  no  sign  of  the  supernatural; 
and  the  reason  of  this  in  my  private  opin¬ 
ion,  is,  because  for  the  last  sixty  years  it 
has  been  housed  away  as  a  private  pos¬ 
session,  and  is  no  longer  exposed,  as  in 
former  times,  to  the  public  worship  of  the 
faithful.” 

Recounting  the  history  of  the  picture, 
he  narrated  how  the  Blessed  Virgin  had 
signified  her  wish  that  the  picture  should 
be  venerated  between  the  church  of  St. 
Mary  Major  and  that  of  St.  John  Lateran, 
after  which  he  exclaimed: 

”0  may  God  grant  that  among  my 
hearers  there  may  be  some  one  who  knows 
where  that  picture  now  is,  and  who  would 
make  known  to  the  party  retaining  it  the 
expressed  will  of  the  Mother  of  God!  We 
may  hope  that  whoever  holds  the  picture, 
when  thus  informed,  may  be  moved  to 
recognize  the  wrong  he  is  guilty  of,  and 
place  the  picture  again  in  some  church 
situated  between  the  Esquiline  and  the 
Caelian  as  an  object  of  public  veneration.” 

The  learned  Jesuit  concluded  his  dis¬ 
course  with  the  following  words: 

“Who  knows  but  the  discovery  of  this 
picture  is  reserved  for  our  time,  and  that 
the  blessed  virgin  who  loves  to  be  known 
as  our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help  has  an- 


—17— 


nexed  to  its  discovery  the  granting  of  that 
peace  and  tranquility  so  much  to  be  de¬ 
sired.  Fortunate,  may  they  esteem  them¬ 
selves  who  can  help  to  bring  about  the 
restoration  of  this  picture  to  public  vener¬ 
ation.” 


Redemptorists  Claim  the  Picture 

AFTER  reading  that  sermon,  it  became, 
as  may  well  be  supposed,  the  ardent 
wish  of  the  Redemptorist  Fathers,  to  see 
that  miraculous  picture  restored  to  public 
veneration,  and  to  have  it,  if  possible,  in 
their  own  church  of  St.  Alphonsus.  They 
considered  that  they  had  a  special  claim  to 
the  picture,  not  only  because  their  church 
is  between  the  two,  St.  Mary  Major’s  and 
St.  John  Lateran’s  but  also  because  they 
own  the  site  on  which  the  church  of  St. 
Matthew  formerly  stood,  and  their  church 
of  St.  Alphonsus  was  substituted  for  that 
of  St.  Matthew.  The  members  of  the  or¬ 
der,  prayed  earnestly  to  the  Blessed  Virgin 
to  inspire  their  superior-general  to  take 
all  steps  necessary  to  bring  about  the  de¬ 
sired  end. 

The  superior-general  himself  was  as 
anxious  as  any  member  of  the  order  to 
obtain  the  miraculous  picture  for  St.  Al- 
phonsus’s  church,  yet  he  made  no  move  in 
the  matter.  The  time  had  not  yet  come. 
And  thus  passed  two  years.  At  length, 
yielding  to  entreaties,  he  resolved  to  ask 
his  Holiness,  Pius  IX.,  for  the  picture.  Ac- 


—18— 


cordingly,  in  an  audience  obtained  on  the 
11th  of  December,  1865,  he  related  in  a 
few  words  the  history  of  the  painting,  and 
handed  his  petition  to  the  Holy  Father. 
Pius  IX.,  moved  by  that  love  of  God’s 
Mother  so  characteristic  of  him,  took  a 
pen  and,  without  a  moment’s  hesitation, 
wrote  the  following  words  on  the  petition; 

December  11,  1865. 

“The  Cardinal  Prefect  of  the  Propa¬ 
ganda  will  send  for  the  Superior  of  the 
Community  of  St.  Mary  in  Posterula,  and 
make  known  to  him  that  it  is  our  will  that 
the  picture  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  referred 
to  in  this  petition  be  returned  to  the 
church  between  St.  Mary  Major’s,  and  St. 
John  Lateran’s,  with  the  obligation,  how¬ 
ever,  imposed  on  the  Redemptorist  of  re¬ 
placing  the  picture  by  some  other  respect¬ 
able  painting. 

PIUS  P.  P.  IX.” 

Picture  Is  Removed  to  Redemptorist 
Convent 

T^VERYBODY  knows  what  confidence  the 
Holy  Father  had  in  the  intercession  of 
the  ever  blessed,  the  immaculate  Mother 
of  God.  He  seized  on  every  occasion  to 
manifest  this  confidence  and  strove,  by  all 
means  to  infuse  a  like  sentiment  into  the 
hearts  of  the  faithful.  We  do  not  think 
we  are  much  out  of  the  way  in  saying  that 
it  is  our  belief  that  his  Holiness  was  in¬ 
duced  to  issue  the  order  above  referred 


—19— 


to,  so  readily,  in  the  hope  that  our  Lady 
or  Perpetual  Help  would  come  to  the  suc¬ 
cor  of  the  Eternal  City,  and  restore  peace 
to  the  Church. 

When  all  preliminaries  had  been  gone 
through,  the  day  appointed  by  Providence 
for  the  restoration  of  the  picture  at  length 
arrived.  In  the  afternoon  of  the  19th  of 
January,  18  66,  two  Redemptorist  fathers 
repaired  to  St.  Mary’s  in  Posterula,  and  re¬ 
ceived  the  painting  from  the  Very  Rev. 
Father  Prior.  Father  Marchi  found  the 
picture  where  he  had  seen  it  in  his  youth, 
in  the  year  1840.  It  was  wonderfully  well 
preserved.  The  only  injuries  done  it  were 
caused  by  nails  with  which  a  cross-piece 
had  been  fastened  on  behind,  to  which 
strings  of  pearls  and  jewels  had,  it  seemed, 
been  fastened  over  the  heads  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  and  the  child.  However, 
these  defects  were  quickly  remedied.  A 
first-class  artist  succeeded  in  neatly  cov¬ 
ering  up  the  holes,  without  interfering  in 
the  least  with  any  other  part  of  the  paint¬ 
ing. 

It  only  remained  now  to  bring  the  pic¬ 
ture  and  its  wondrous  history  to  the 
knowledge  of  the  pious  people  of  the  Eter¬ 
nal  City.  To  this  end,  the  superiors  of 
the  Redemptorist  Order  took  immediate 
steps,  by  the  erection  of  a  beautiful  and 
costly  altar  to  our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help.  Over  this  altar  the  miraculous  pic¬ 
ture  was  hung,  and,  on  its  right,  a  paint¬ 
ing  of  St.  Matthew,  to  whom  the  former 


20— 


church  had  been  dedicated,  and  on  its  left, 
one  of  St.  Cletus  pope  and  martyr,  who 
had  founded  the  ancient  edifice. 


The  Solemn  Procession 

FROM  the  19th  of  January,  1866,  to  the 
26th  day  of  April,  the  picture  was  kept 
in  a  private  chapel  of  the  Redemptorist 
College.  On  this  latter  date,  the  feast  of 
Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel,  it  was  carried 
in  solemn  procession  through  the  streets 
of  the  neighborhood  before  being  placed 
over  the  altar  specially  built  for  its  ven¬ 
eration.  Along  the  streets  strewn  with 
flowers,  palms  and  laurel  branches,  there 
were  that  day,  it  was  computed,  over  twen¬ 
ty  thousand  people.  The  houses  were  all 
decorated,  as  is  the  custom  in  Rome  on 
great  festivals,  with  flags  and  banners, 
and  a  bright  drapery  streamed  from  win¬ 
dows  and  balconies. 

When  the  appointed  route  had  been 
gone  over,  the  procession  entered  the 
church  of  St.  Alphonsus.  The  church  had 
been  most  gorgeously  decorated  for  the 
occasion,  and  the  innumerable  lamps  and 
tapers  burning  made  the  interior  one  blaze 
of  light.  The  Right  Rev.  Bishop  gave 
benediction  with  the  blessed  sacrament 
three  times,  and  then  the  miraculous  pic¬ 
ture  was  placed  over  the  high  altar,  there 
to  remain  during  the  Triduum. 

The  devotions  of  the  Triduum,  on  the 


—21— 


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Brother  Orsettl  points  out  the  Mi¬ 
raculous  Picture  to  Michael  Marchi. 


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27th,  28th  and  29th  of  April,  were  as  fol¬ 
lows:  In  the  forenoon,  a  solemn  ponti- 

cal  mass  was  celebrated  at  the  high  altar, 
the  first  day  by  the  Most  Rev.  Arch¬ 
bishop  of  Petra,  on  the  second  and  third 
day,  by  the  Bishops  of  Terracina  and 
Acquila.  From  early  morning  to  noon  the 
other  altars  were  occupied  by  cardinals, 
prelates,  and  regular  and  secular  clergy 
celebrating  the  holy  sacrifice.  In  the  after¬ 
noon,  the  Litany  of  our  Lady  was  sung,  a 
Redemptorist  father  preached,  and  car¬ 
dinal  gave  benediction  of  the  most  holy 
sacrament.  The  cardinals  who  thus  offi¬ 
ciated  were  their  Eminences,  Panebiazaco, 
Pitra  and  Reisbach.  At  the  close  of  the 
Triduum,  his  Eminence,  Cardinal  Reis¬ 
bach,  intoned  the  Te  Deuin  in  thanksgiv¬ 
ing.  The  interest  which  the  Roman  peo¬ 
ple  took  in  the  discovery  of  this  jewel 
passes  description.  Their  joy  was  un¬ 
bounded,  and  their  devotion  to  the  miracu¬ 
lous  picture  most  ardent.  The  Roman 
newspaper  which  gave  an  account  of  the 
celebration  says,  in  this  connection,  that 
the  devotion  of  the  Romans  to  the  Im¬ 
maculate  Mother  of  God  is  so  well  known 
a  fact,  that  nobody  doubted  they  would 
manifest  great  interest  in  the  solemn  ex¬ 
position  of  the  miraculous  painting.  But, 
it  adds  the  enthusiasm  and  joyous  mani¬ 
festations  called  forth  on  this  occasion  sur¬ 
passed  all  expectations. 

After  the  Triduum,  the  painting  wa» 
allowed  to  remain  all  through  the  month 


7 


of  May,  over  the  high  altar.  Before  it  the 
May  devotions  were  performed.  On  the 
5th  day  of  May,  to  the  great  joy  of  all,  the 
Holy  Father  came  himself  to  venerate  the 
picture.  He  spoke  of  the  great  pleasure 
and  interest  he  had  taken  in  all  that  had 
been  done  and  implored  a  blessing  on  all 
who  would  devoutly  visit  the  relic.  He  or¬ 
dered  a  copy  of  the  painting  for  his  own 
room,  and  as  he  informed  the  General  of 
the  Redemptorist,  spent  some  portion  of 
each  day  before  it  in  veneration. 

The  rush  to  the  church  of  St.  Al- 
phonsus  continued  unabated.  Every  hour 
of  the  day  one  might  see  a  number  of 
people  of  all  classes  before  the  picture,  be¬ 
seeching  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help  to 
succor  them  in  their  troubles  and  neces¬ 
sities,  and  to  vouchsafe  to  grant  peace  to 
the  Church,  and  grace  and  light  to  the 
Holy  Father.  Numberless  instances  of 
prayers  heard  and  graces  granted  were 
recorded  every  day. 

Description  of  the  Picture 

THE  picture  is  twenty-two  inches  wide, 
painted  in  the  Byzantine  style,  on  a 
groundwork  of  gold.  It  betrays  the  hand 
of  a  master,  as  able  as  he  was  pious,  and, 
according  to  the  most  competent  critics, 
dates  from  the  thirteenth  century. 

Our  Blessed  Lady,  in  half  figure,  holds 
her  divine  child  on  her  left  arm,  with  the 
right  gracefully  held  in  view.  The  eyes  of 


—2 


the  painting  look  straight  at  the  beholder 
with  a  loving,  but  earnest  expression,  and 
seem  to  speak  the  anguish  and  sorrow  of 
her  soul  at  the  sufferings  of  her  divine 
Son.  A  dark  blue  mantle,  with  green  lin¬ 
ing,  covers  her  head,  and  falls  in  easy  fold* 
down  her  shoulders.  Just  over  the  fore¬ 
head  a  small  star  is  on  the  mantle,  and 
immediately  under  this  star  is  the  band  by 
which  the  mantle  is  fastened  round  the 
front  part  of  the  head.  Along  this  band 
run  lines  of  gold,  and  similar  lines  are 
seen  along  the  edge  of  the  red  garment  in 
which  she  is  clothed.  Gold  is  also  used  in 
accordance  with  the  custom  of  that  age,  in 
the  bright  lines  by  which,  in  contrast  with 
the  deep  blue  shading,  the  folds  of  the 
mantle  are  depicted.  On  either  side  of  the 
head  four  Greek  letters  are  seen,  which 
stand  for  the  words,  “Mother  of  God.” 

The  divine  child  is  in  full  figure,  and 
in  His  sweet  countenance  is  expressed  the 
pain  He  feels  at  the  sight  of  the  cross 
which  the  angel  holds  before  Him.  As  if 
seeking  protection  from  His  mother.  He 
grasps  her  right  hartd.  His  robe  is  green, 
His  mantle  a  dark  yellow,  and  His  cincture 
a  carmine  red.  He  wears  sandals,  one  of 
which  is  fastened  to  the  foot,  the  other 
hanging  loose.  Over  His  left  shoulder  are 
the  Greek  letters  signifying  “Jesus  Christ.” 

On  either  side  of  the  Virgin’s  head,  and 
on  a  line  with  the  lower  part  of  her  fea¬ 
tures,  is  seen  a  half-figure  angel  in  most 
respectful  attitude.  The  angel  on  the  right 


—25— 


holds  in  his  hand  a  vessel  in  which  are 
the  lance  and  the  reed  with  a  sponge. 
Over  him  are  the  initials  in  Greek  of  Mi¬ 
chael  the  Archangel.  The  angel  on  the 
left  holds  up  before  the  divine  Child  a 
cross  bearing  the  usual  inscription.  This 
cross  differs  from  the  ordinary  shape,  in 
that  it  has  a  second  cross-piece  midway 
between  the  foot  and  the  usual  one.  Be¬ 
sides  the  cross  the  angel  holds  in  his  hand 
four  nails,  and  over  him  the  initials  in 
Greek  of  St.  Gabriel  the  Archangel. 

The  Artist’s  Conception  in  the  Picture 

THERE  is  a,  traditional  belief  among  the 
faithful  that  the  pious  artist  who 
painted  the  picture  wished  to  portray  on 
canvas  the  thought  contained  in  the  words 
of  David’s  prophecy  concerning  Our 
Blessed  Redeemer.  “My  sorrow  is  ever 
before  me.” 

Tradition  tells  the  following  story.  The 
Child  Jesus  was  one  day  playing  peacefully 
in  the  little  garden  that  surrounded  His 
humble  home  when  suddenly  there  appear¬ 
ed  before  Him  two  Archangels  from  the 
highest  heavens,  bearing  the  blood-stained 
instruments  of  His  future  passion  and 
death.  The  cross,  the  nails,  the  lance,  and 
the  dripping  sponge  of  vinegar  and  gall,  by 
command  of  the  eternal  Father,  are  boldly 
displayed  before  the  wondering  eyes  of  the 
tender  Infant.  At  sight  of  this  awful 
vision  the  divine  Child  is  startled  and 
frightened.  Instinctively  He  rushes  to  His 


Mother’s  arms  for  protection;  His  trem¬ 
bling  fingers  clasp  the  Mother’s  right 
hand,  while  she  with  her  left  arm  draws 
Him  tighter  and  nearer  to  her  bosom.  So 
terrified  was  the  Child  at  the  sight  of  the 
awful  vision,  that  in  His  haste  to  reach 
His  Mother’s  sheltering  arms,  one  of  His 
sandals  became  unfastened,  and  in  the 
picture  is  seen  to  be  falling  from  the  naked 
foot. 

Amazed  and  alarmed,  the  divine  Child 
still  gazes  upon  the  blood-stained  instru¬ 
ments  of  torture  as  the  angels  continue  to 
hold  them  before  Him.  He  beholds  in  this 
awful  vision  all  that  He  must  suffer  for  the 
salvation  of  sinful  men.  Hence  He  is  in 
very  truth,  a  “Child  of  sorrows,”  as  much 
as  the,  “Man  of  sorrows.”  He  already 
recognizes  all  the  suffering  He  must  en¬ 
dure,  though  as  yet  afar  off — the  physical 
and  mental  agonies,  the  scorn  of  men, 
their  rejection  of  His  divine  mission,  His 
betrayal  by  Judas  the  weary  lonely  strug¬ 
gle  of  Gethsemane,  the  traitor’s  kiss,  the 
cords  and  buffets,  the  terrible  pain  and 
shame  of  the  scourging,  and  His  unjust 
condemnation  by  Pilate.  He  sees  the 
bloody  steps  from  Pilate’s  tribunal  to  Cal¬ 
vary’s  heights.  With  eyes  riveted  upon 
those  instruments  of  pain,  He  beholds  the 
maddened  crowd  and  hears  the  yells,  the 
cries  and  curses  of  the  ungrateful  Jews, 
urging  on  the  Roman  strangers  to  hasten 
the  work  of  nailing  Him  to  the  cross,  that 
He  might  die  the  death  of  a  malefactor. 


—27— 


Upon  witnessing  these  fearful  sights  and 
hearing  these  woeful  sounds,  His  eyes  fill 
with  tears  and  His  heart  bleeds. 

As  the  vision  of  His  future  sufferings 
and  death  unfolds  itself  before  His  tender 
eyes  now  suffused  with  tears,  He  clings 
fervently  to  His  Mother’s  breast,  clasps 
her  hand  with  trembling  fingers,  and  seeks 
in  her  arms  comfort  and  succor.  Though 
terrified.  He  feels  perfectly  safe  and  secure 
in  her  sheltering  arms.  Thus  ever  and  al¬ 
ways,  was  the  Mother  the  Child’s  consoler 
and  Perpetual  Help.  Jesus  turned  to  her, 
ran,  to  her,  cast  Himself  into  her  arms, 
resting  His  head  on  her  virginal  bosom, 
and  there  found  sympathy  and  sweet 
refuge.  Mary,  in  a  word  was  the  perpetual 
help  of  Jesus  her  Son  and  her  God.  This 
then  is  the  primary  idea  of  the  picture  and 
the  noble  conception  of  the  pious  artist. 

Confraternity  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help  and  St.  Alphonsus 

THE  devotion  to  our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help  grew  so  rapidly  after  the  picture 
had  been  set  up  for  public  veneration  in 
the  church  of  St.  Alphonsus,  Rome,  that 
yielding  to  the  wishes  of  the  faithful  a 
Confraternity  was  established  on  the  4th 
of  June,  1871. 

Almost  from  its  inception  the  Confra¬ 
ternity,  like  the  devotion  to  the  miracu¬ 
lous  picture,  spread  with  marvelous  rapid¬ 
ity.  The  early  zeal  of  the  faithful  fore- 


—28— 


«^«  «^>  >^»  »%>  »^»  »$»«%»  »|«  «^»«^»' 

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Fins  IX.  grants  the  Redemptorists 
possession  of  the  Miraculous  Picture. 


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shadowed  the  future.  So  extended  had  the 
membership  in  the  Confraternity  grown  by 
the  year  1876  that  Pius  IX.  saw  fit  to 
erect  it  into  an  archconfraternity.  His 
Holiness  expressed  the  wish,  at  the  same 
time,  that  his  own  name  be  set  down  at 
the  head  of  the  list  of  enrolled  members. 


Aim  of  the  Confraternity 

THE  aim  of  the  Confraternity  is  1st — To 
serve  and  honor  the  Queen  of  Heaven 
under  the  title  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help  and  to  try  to  get  others  to  do  like¬ 
wise. 

2.  To  secure  for  one’s  self  and  for 
others  the  grace  of  final  perseverance. 

3.  To  have  recourse  to  Our  Lady  of 
Perpetual  Help  in  all  spiritual  necessities, 
especially  in  moments  of  temptation  and 
suffering. 

4th.  To  fly  to  Our  Mother  of  Perpet¬ 
ual  Help  and  also  in  temporal  difficulties, 
appealing  to  her  motherly  heart  with  all 
confidence. 


Membership 

TO  BECOME  a  member  of  the  Archcon¬ 
fraternity,  it  is  necessary: 

No.  1.  To  be  registered  as  a  member 
in  a  church  where  the  Confraternity  is 
canonically  erected. 

No.  2.  To  make  the  act  of  consecra- 


—30 — 


?  • 


tion  to  Our  Lady  and  St.  Alphonsus.  This 
may  be  made  privately. 

No.  3.  Persons  at  a  distance  may  be 
enrolled  as  members  when  they  apply  for 
admission. 

No.  4.  Members  should  always  wear  a 
medal  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help. 

No.  5.  Members  should  have  in  their 
homes  a  blessed  picture  of  Our  Lady  of 
Perpetual  Help. 


Advantages  of  the  Confraternity 

1.  The  members  are  assured  of  the 
constant  protection  of  Our  Lady  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help. 

2.  Through  this  devotion  the  mem¬ 
bers  are  endowed  with  an  influence  almost 
miraculous,  for  the  softening  and  convert¬ 
ing  of  obstinate  sinners. 

3.  The  members  share  in  the  public 
devotions  and  other  good  works  of  the  en¬ 
tire  Archconfraternity. 

4.  Finally  by  the  express  will  of  the 
Superior-general  of  the  Redemptorist 
Fathers,  the  members  have  a  special  share 
in  the  fruits  and  merits  of  the  missions, 
the  pious  exercises,  the  apostolic  labors, 
the  prayers,  the  penances,  and  all  other 
good  works  without  exception  which  are 
performed  by  the  entire  congregation  of 
the  Redemptorist  Fathers. 


—31 — 


Plenary  Indulgences 

'T'HE  members  of  the  Confraternity  may 
gain  a  plenary  indulgence  on  the  day 
they  have  their  names  registered. 

In  the  hour  of  death.  (Brief  March 
10th,  1876.) 

On  the  Sunday  preceding  the  feast  of 
the  Nativity  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  (June 
24.) 

On  the  feast  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help  (Sunday  preceding  feast  of  St.  John 
the  Baptist),  or  on  any  one  of  the  seven 
days  following  the  feast. 

On  the  2nd  of  August  feast  of  St.  Al- 
phonsus,  or  on  any  one  of  the  seven  days 
following  the  feast. 

Once  a  month  on  the  day  chosen  for 
the  renewal  of  the  Act  of  Consecration. 

Once  a  month  or  any  day  chosen  if  the 
member  recited  daily  for  thirty  days  this 
prayer:  “O  Mary,  Mother  of  Perpetual 

Help,  pray  for  us;  St.  Alphonsus  my  Pro¬ 
tector  in  all  my  wants  make  me  have  re¬ 
course  to  Mary.” 

Once  a  year  by  attending  holy  Mass 
which  is  offered  for  the  deceased  members 
on  the  first  day  permissable  after  the  feast 
of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help. 

The  conditions  for  all  the  above  indul¬ 
gences  are:  Confession,  Holy  Communion, 
Visit  to  the  church  where  the  Confraterni¬ 
ty  is  established,  with  prayers  for  the  in¬ 
tention  of  the  Pope.  (If  the  visit  cannot 
be  made  to  the  church  of  the  Confraternity, 


—32— 


then  any  other  church  may  be  substituted. 
Religious  living  in  community  may  make 
the  visit  in  their  church  or  oratory.) 

Lastly  a  plenary  indulgence  may  be 
gained  in  the  hour  of  death. 


Partial  Indulgences 

SEVEN  years  and  seven  times  forty  days 
if  the  members  visit  the  church  of  the 
Confraternity,  or  if  that  is  impossible  any 
other  church,  on  the  feast  of  St.  Michael, 
Sept.  29,  and  St.  Gabriel,  March  24,  also 
on  the  feasts  of  St.  Matthew  Apostle,  Sept. 
21,  Our  Lady  of  Good  Counsel,  April  26. 

Three  hundred  days  if  the  members  re¬ 
cite  morning,  noon,  and  night,  the  follow¬ 
ing  ejaculation:  “O,  Mary,  Mother  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help,  pray  for  me.  My  Protector 
St.  Alphonsus,  in  all  my  wants  make  me 
have  recourse  to  Mary.” 

Three  hundred  days  once  a  day  if  they 
devoutly  visit  a  church  where  there  is  a 
picture  of  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help  or  St. 
Alphonsus. 

Sixty  days  for  every  work  of  piety  or 
charity  of  any  kind. 

All  the  above  indulgences  may  be  ap¬ 
plied  to  the  Souls  in  Purgatory. 

The  directors  of  the  Confraternity  have 
the  faculty  of  blessing  and  attaching  the 
Apostolic  Indulgences  to  the  medal  of  the 
Confraternity.  These  Apostolic  Indul¬ 
gences  are  determined  by  each  Pope  at  the 


—33— 


beginning  of  his  Pontificate.  They  are 
very  numerous. 

There  are  many  other  prayers  and 
ejaculations  to  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help,  to  which  indulgences  are  attached 
for  example  one  hundred  days  for  saying: 
“Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  pray  for  us.” 
For  longer  indulgenced  prayers  see 
“Novena  manual  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help.” 

Some  General  Rules  for  Gaining 
Indulgences 

THE  pious  works  prescribed  for  gaining 

an  indulgence,  any  confessor  may  com¬ 
mute  to  other  pious  works  for  all  who  are 
legitimately  impeded. 

To  gain  an  indulgence  attached  to  a 
certain  day,  the  confession  that  is  re¬ 
quired,  may  be  made  eight  days  before, 
and  the  Communion  may  be  received  the 
day  before. 

Those  who  receive  Communion  devout¬ 
ly  and  with  proper  intention  at  least  five 
times  a  week,  can  gain  all  the  indulgences 
for  which  confession  is  required,  no  mat¬ 
ter  how  long  the  time  since  their  last  con¬ 
fession. 

As  to  confession  itself,  those  who  or¬ 
dinarily  confess  at  least  twice  a  month  can 
gain  all  the  indulgences. 

(Directions  for  erecting  the  Confra¬ 
ternity  may  be  found  in  the:  “Novena 
Manual  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help.”) 


—34 — 


)  f 

A  Practical  Method  of  Making  a  Novena 

SAY  nine  Hail  Marys,  the  Litany  of  th« 
Blessed  Virgin  and  the  following  pray¬ 
ers  for  nine  days.  If  possible,  go  to  Com¬ 
munion  every  day  during  the  Novena. 

V — Thou  hast  been  made  for  us  O  Lady, 
a  refuge. 

R — A  Helper  in  need  and  tribulation. 
Let  Us  Pray 

O  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  Who  didst  give 
to  us  Thy  Mother,  Mary,  whose  renowned 
image  we  venerate,  to  be  a  mother  ever 
ready  to  help  us,  grant,  we  beseech  Thee, 
that  we  who  constantly  implore  her  aid 
may  merit  to  enjoy  perpetually  the  fruits 
of  Thy  redemption,  who  livest  and  reign- 
est  forever  and  ever.  Amen. 

fndulgenced  Prayers  for  the  1st,  2nd,  3rd, 
Day  of  Novena 

Behold  at  thy  feet,  O  Mother  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help!  a  wretched  sinner  who  has 
recourse  to  thee  and  confides  in  thee.  O 
Mother  of  Mercy!  have  pity  on  me.  I  hear 
thee  called  by  all,  the  Refuge  and  the  Hope 
of  Sinners;  be,  then,  my  refuge  and  my 
hope.  Assist  me  for  the  love  of  Jesus 
Christ;  stretch  forth  thy  hand  to  a  mis¬ 
erable,  fallen  creature,  who  recommends 
himself  to  thee  and  who  devotes  himself  to 
thy  service  forever.  I  bless  and  thank  Al¬ 
mighty  God,  who  in  His  mercy  has  given 
me  this  confidence  in  thee,  which  I  hold  to 


—35 — 


be  a  pledge  of  my  eternal  salvation.  It  is 
true  that  in  the  past  I  have  miserably 
fallen  into  sin  because  I  had  not  recourse 
to  thee.  I  know,  too,  that  thou  wilt  as¬ 
sist  me,  if  I  recommend  myself  to  thee; 
but  I  fear  that,  in  time  of  danger,  I  may 
neglect  to  call  on  thee,  and  thus  lose  my 
soul.  This  grace,  then,  I  ask  of  thee,  and 
this  I  beg,  with  all  the  fervor  of  my  soul, 
that,  in  all  the  attacks  of  hell,  I  may  ever 
have  recourse  to  thee.  O  Mary!  help  me. 
O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  never  suffer 
me  to  lose  my  God. 

4th,  5th,  and  6th  Day  of  Novena 

O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help!  grant 
that  I  may  ever  invoke  thy  most  powerful 
name  which  is  the  safeguard  of  the  living 
and  the  salvation  of  the  dying.  O  purest 
Mary!  O  sweetest  Mary!  let  thy  name 
henceforth  be  ever  on  my  lips.  Delay  not, 
O  Blessed  Lady!  to  succor,  me,  whenever 
I  call  on  thee;  for  in  all  my  temptations, 
in  all  my  needs,  I  shall  never  cease  to  call 
on  thee  ever  repeating  thy  sacred  name, 
Mary,  Mary. 

O  what  consolation,  what  sweetness, 
what  confidence,  what  emotion  fills  my 
soul  when  I  utter  thy  sacred  name,  or 
even  only  think  of  thee!  I  thank  the  Lord 
for  having  given  thee,  for  my  good,  so 
sweet,  so  powerful,  so  lovely  a  name.  But 
I  will  not  be  content  with  merely  utter¬ 
ing  thy  name.  Let  my  love  for  thee  prompt 


—36— 


me  ever  to  hail  thee,  Mother  of  Perpetual 
Help. 

7th,  8th,  and  9th  Day  of  Novena 

0  mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  thou  art 
the  dispenser  of  all  the  gifts  which  God 
grants  to  us  miserable  sinners;  and  for 
this  end,  He  had  made  thee  so  powerful, 
so  rich,  and  so  bountiful,  in  order  that 
thou  mayest  succor  us  in  our  misery.  Thou 
art  the  advocate  of  the  most  wretched 
and  abandoned  sinners  who  have  recourse 
to  thee;  come  to  my  help,  I  commend  my¬ 
self  to  thee.  In  thy  hands  I  place  my  eter¬ 
nal  salvation,  and  to  thee  I  intrust  my  soul. 
Count  me  among  thy  most  devoted  serv¬ 
ants;  take  me  under  thy  protection,  and  it 
is  enough  for  me.  For,  if  Thou  protect 
me,  I  fear  nothing;  not  from  my  sins,  be¬ 
cause  thou  wilt  obtain  for  me  the  pardon 
of  them;  nor  from  the  devils,  because  thou 
art  more  powerful  than  all  hell  together; 
nor  even  from  Jesus,  my  Judge,  because 
by  one  prayer  from  thee  He  will  be  ap¬ 
peased.  But  one  thing  I  fear;  that  in  the 
hour  of  temptation,  I  may,  through  neg¬ 
ligence  fail  to  have  recourse  to  thee  and 
thus  perish  miserably.  Obtain  for  me 
therefore,  the  pardon  of  my  sins,  love  for 
Jesus,  final  perseverance,  and  the  grace 
ever  to  have  recourse  to  thee,  O  Mother  of 
Perpetual  Help! 


—37— 


Prayer  in  Spiritual  Wants 

O  MOTHER  of  Perpetual  Help,  with  the 
greatest  confidence  I  come  before  Thy 
sacred  Picture,  in  order  to  invoke  thine 
aid.  Thou  hast  seen  the  wounds  which 
Jesus  has  been  pleased  to  receive  for  our 
sake;  thou  hast  seen  the  Blood  of  thy  Son 
flowing  for  our  salvation;  thou  knowest 
how  thy  Son  desires  to  apply  to  us  the 
fruit  of  His  Redemption.  Behold  I  cast 
myself  at  thy  feet,  and  pray  thee  to  obtain 
for  my  soul  the  grace  I  stand  so  much  in 
need  of.  O  Mary,  most  loving  of  all  moth¬ 
ers,  obtain  for  me  from  the  heart  of  Jesus, 
the  source  of  every  good,  this  grace  (here 
mention  it.)  O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help 
thou  desirest  our  salvation  far  more  than 
we  ourselves;  thy  Son  has  given  thee  to 
us  for  our  Mother;  thou  hast  thyself 
chosen  to  be  called  Mother  of  Perpetual 
Help.  I  trust  not  in  my  merits,  but  in 
thy  powerful  intercession;  I  trust  in  thy 
goodness;  I  trust  in  thy  motherly  love. 
Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  for  the  love 
thou  bearest  to  Jesus,  thy  Son  and  my  Re¬ 
deemer,  for  the  love  of  thy  great  servant 
Alphonsus,  for  the  love  of  my  soul,  ob¬ 
tain  for  me  the  grace  I  ask  from  thee. 
Amen. 


Prayer  in  Temporal  Wants 


O  MOTHER  of  Perpetual  Help,  numer¬ 
ous  clients  continually  surround  thy 
holy  Picture,  all  imploring  thy  mercy.  All 


38 — 


bless  thee  as  the  assured  help  of  the  miser 
able;  all  feel  the  benefit  of  thy  maternal 
protection.  With  confidence,  then,  do  I 
present  myself  before  thee  in  my  misery. 
See,  dear  Mother,  the  many  evils  to  which 
we  are  exposed;  see  how  numerous  are 
our  wants.  Trials  and  sorrows  often  de 
press  us;  reverses  of  fortune  and  priva 
tions  are  grievous,  bring  misery  into  our 
homes;  everywhere  we  meet  the  cross. 
Have  pity,  compassionate  Mother  on  us 
and  on  our  families;  especially  in  this  my 
necessity  (here  mention  it).  Help  me,  O 
my  Mother,  in  my  distress;  deliver  me 
from  all  my  ills;  or  if  it  be  the  will  of 
God  that  I  should  suffer  still  longer  grant 
that  I  may  endure  all  with  love  and  pa¬ 
tience.  This  grace  I  expect  of  thee  with 
confidence,  because  thou  art  our  Perpetual 
Help.  Amen. 

«, 

Prayer  in  Sickness 

ODEAR  MOTHER  of  Perpetual  Help. 

behold  how  much  I  suffer  from  this 
my  sickness.  Together  with  the  body  my 
soul  is  also  afflicted.  I  have  not  even 
strength  to  say  a  prayer  as  I  ought  to  do. 
Nothing  is  able  to  give  me  any  relief.  Even 
the  visit  and  compassion  of  my  best 
friends  do  not  give  me  any  comfort. 
Hence  my  courage  begins  to  fail;  impa¬ 
tience  and  sadness  oppress  my  soul.  In 
this  my  great  distress  I  put  all  my  trust 
in  thee,  most  tender  of  all  mothers.  Thy 


compassionate  heart  will  certainly  har- 
pity  on  me;  yes  most  merciful  Mother, 
thou  wilt  not  forget  thy  poor,  afflicted 
child.  (Here  mention  sickness.)  Obtain 
then  for  me  courage  and  strength  to  ac¬ 
cept  all  these  trials  from  the  hand  of  God 
with  patience  and  resignation.  If  it  is 
for  the  good  of  my  soul,  grant  that  I  may 
recover  my  former  health;  but  if  it  is  the 
will  of  God  that  I  should  suffer  still  longer, 
or  that  this  sickness  should  lead  me  to  a 
better  life,  I  am  perfectly  resigned,  for  I 
am  sure  that  thou,  O  loving  Mother,  wilt 
obtain  for  me  the  grace  to  do  whatever 
God  demands  of  me.  Amen. 


Prayer  for  the  Wants  of  the  Church 

OHOLY  Virgin  Mary,  whom  we  love  to 
call  Our  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help, 
show  us  that  thou  dost  merit  this  beauti¬ 
ful  title  by  continually  shielding  the 
Church  and  its  august  Head  with  thy  pro¬ 
tection.  Through  the  infinite  merits  of 
Jesus  Christ,  which  we  offer  by  thee  to  the 
Eternal  Father,  do  thou  obtain  for  sinners 
the  grace  of  a  sincere  repentance,  for  the 
dying,  the  grace  of  a  holy  death,  for  the 
souls  of  our  deceased  relations,  the  grace 
of  deliverance  from  the  flames  of  Purga¬ 
tory,  and  for  all  of  us  the  grace  of  pardon 
and  abundant  mercy.  Amen. 


*  *t.  »»*  » x  —  aTa  aI^  ** - *T*  ai*  *T*  *T*  *i*  »i* *x*  *T*  *aa*Xaaa4 

™ "3^— w  T  *  i  *  *1* 

4.  ❖ 

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Pius  IX.  before  the  Miraculous  Pic¬ 
ture  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Succor 
in  the  Church  of  the  Redemptorista 
in  Rome. 


Prayer  tor  the  Conversion  of  a  Sinner 

OMARY,  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help, 
thou  knowest  so  well  the  great  value 
of  an  immortal  soul.  Thou  knowest  what 
It  means,  that  every  soul  has  been  re¬ 
deemed  by  the  Blood  of  thy  Divine  Son, 
thou  wilt  not  then  despise  my  prayer,  if  I 
ask  from  thee  the  conversion  of  a  sinner, 
nay  a  great  sinner  who  is  rapidly  hurrying 
on  towards  eternal  ruin.  Thou,  O  good 
merciful  Mother,  knowest  well  his  irregu¬ 
lar  life.  Remember  that  thou  art  the 
refuge  of  sinners,  remember  that  God  has 
given  thee  power  to  bring  about  the  con¬ 
version  of  even  the  most  wretched  sinners. 
All  that  has  been  done  for  his  soul,  has 
been  unsuccessful;  if  thou  dost  not  come 
to  his  assistance,  he  will  go  from  bad  to 
worse.  Obtain  for  him  an  effectual  grace 
that  he  may  be  moved  and  brought  back  to 
God  and  his  duties.  Send  him,  if  necessary, 
temporal  calamities  and  trials,  that  he  may 
enter  into  himself,  and  put  an  end  to  his 
sinful  course.  Thou,  O  most  merciful 
Mother,  hast  converted  so  many  sinners 
at  the  intercession  of  their  friends,  be, 
then,  also  moved  by  my  prayer,  and  bring 
this  unhappy  soul  to  true  conversion  of 
heart.  O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  show 
that  thou  art  the  Advocate  and  Refuge  of 
sinners.  So  I  hope,  so  may  it  be.  Amen 


—42— 


Prayer  for  Financial  Aid 

IDEALIZING  dear  Mother  Mary,  that 
-L'-  thou  art  our  perpetual  help,  not  only 
in  spiritual  but  likewise  in  temporal  ne¬ 
cessities,  we  approach  thee  with  submis¬ 
sive  and  humble  hearts,  because  we  have 
a  child  like  confidence  in  thy  power  and 
goodness,  beseeching  thee  to  assist  us  in 
our  present  financial  worry.  Owing  to 
untoward  circumstances  which  have  arisen 
in  our  lives,  we  are  in  dire  want  and  pe¬ 
cuniary  embarrassment,  being  unable  to 
meet  our  honest  debts.  We  are  not  ask¬ 
ing,  dearest  Mother,  for  wealth,  if  the  pos¬ 
session  of  it,  is  not  in  accordance  with  the 
holy  will  of  God;  we  merely  beg  for  that 
assistance  which  will  enable  use  to  satisfy 
our  pressing  obligations.  We  believe,  dear 
Mother,  that  thou  art  the  Queen  of  heaven 
and  of  earth,  and  as  such  the  instrument 
and  special  dispensation  of  thy  divine  Son 
Jesus  Christ;  that  thou  hast  acquired  by 
virtue  of  thy  wonderful  dignity,  a  sweet 
jurisdiction  over  all  creation.  We  believe 
that  thou  art  not  only  rich  and  bountiful, 
but  extremely  kind  and  generous  to  all  thy 
loving  children.  We  plead  with  thee  then, 
dear  Mother,  to  obtain  for  us  the  help  we 
so  urgently  need  in  our  present  financial 
difficulty.  We  thank  thee,  dear  Lady,  and 
promise  to  publish  far  and  wide,  the  mar 
vels  of  thy  glorious  Picture.  Amen. 


—43— 


Prayer  to  Know  One’s  Vocation 

BEHOLD  at  thy  feet,  O  Mother  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help,  a  humble  and  lowly  client 
of  thine,  who  is  a  prey  to  doubt  and  anxi¬ 
ety  concerning  his  vocation.  As  thou  art 
the  established  guide  of  poor  mortals  here 
below,  to  thee  do  I  send  up  my  sighs  and 
tears,  from  this  world’s  tempestuous  sea. 
Knowing,  dearest  Mother  of  Perpetual 
Help,  that  I  can  be  saved  only  in  that  state 
of  life  to  which  I  have  been  attracted  by 
the  superabundant  graces  thy  divine  Son 
bestows  on  me;  my  one  desire  is  to  accom¬ 
plish  the  holy  will  of  God,  in  all  that  per¬ 
tains  to  my  future;  for  only  in  doing  that 
shall  I  succeed  in  working  out  my  eternal 
salvation.  Meditating  on  those  holy  and 
inspired  words:  “With  fear  and  trembling 
work  out  your  salvation,”  fills  me  with 
dread  and  alarm  lest  following  after  the 
allurements  of  a  wicked  world,  because 
more  pleasing  to  my  carnal  inclinations,  I 
may  neglect  the  divine  attraction  to  a 
higher  life  of  perfection,  and  thus  abusing 
grace  lose  my  soul  and  perish  miserably. 
O  dearest  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  guide 
and  direct  me  safely  in  the  choice  of  a 
state  of  life  wherein  I  may  best  serve  here 
upon  earth,  the  divine  plans  of  my  Lord 
and  Saviour,  that  hereafter  I  may  see  and 
possess  Him  for  all  eternity.  Amen. 


—44— 


Prayer  for  Religious  Vocations 

ODEAR  Virgin  Mother,  thou  art  recog¬ 
nized  as  the  perpetual  help  of  religious 
communities  because  thou  dost  form  and 
prepare  the  hearts  of  thy  chosen  children 
who  are  called  to  imitate  thy  divine  Son 
unto  perfection.  Whilst  upon  earth  thy 
beloved  Jesus,  viewing  the  fruitful  fields 
didst  say:  “The  harvest  indeed  is  great, 
but  the  laborers  are  few.”  How  true  are 
these  words  now.  The  harvest  is  ripe  but 
the  laborers  are  few.  Direct  then  to  our 
community,  devout  and  generous  subjects 
who  are  actuated  by  a  sincere  desire  to 
continue  the  sublime  work  of  Redemption 
and  publish  everywhere,  the  glories  of 
Christ’s  kingdom.  There  are  many  pure 
and  noble  hearts  which  feel  the  divine  at¬ 
traction  to  the  religious  life,  but  fear  to 
take  a  forward  step,  because  they  see  only 
the  sacrifices  but  not  the  reward.  They 
see  the  sword  but  not  the  divine  and  merci¬ 
ful  hand  that  inflicts  the  wound;  they  see 
the  cross  but  not  the  crown.  Obtain  for 
these  virginal  souls,  the  courage  necessary 
to  renounce  the  allurements  of  a  wicked 
world  that  they  may  follow  in  the  foot¬ 
steps  of  thy  adorable  Son  Jesus  Christ. 
Hence  we  beseech  thee,  O  Mother  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help,  to  send  to  our  community 
youthful  hearts,  animated  with  a  desire 
for  their  own  sanctification  and  the  salva¬ 
tion  of  immortal  souls.  Lastly  dearest 
Lady  as  thou  dost  know  so  well  the  value 


—45— 


ojl*  a  religious  vocation,  obtain  for  us  thy 
devoted  children,  the  greatest  of  all  gifts, 
the  grace  of  final  perseverance.  Amen. 

Prayer  of  the  Conversion  of  Non-Catholics 
THRUSTING  in  thy  goodness,  O  sweet 
Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  because  thou 
art  the  Mother  of  mercy  and  the  refuge  of 
sinners,  we  beseech  thee  to  look  with  pity¬ 
ing  eyes  upon  those  who  are  living  out¬ 
side  the  pale  of  the  one  true  Church.  So 
many  nsn-Catholics  possessed  of  kind 
hearts,  with  a  charity  for  God’s  poor,  are 
honestly  seeking  religious  truth,  but  with 
difficulty,  because  they  are  blinded  by  mis¬ 
information  and  inherited  prejudice. 
These  souls  O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help, 
are  destitute  of  the  knowledge  of  the  one 
true  faith,  yet  they  must  be  dear  to  thee  as 
they  are  to  thy  adorable  Son  Jesus,  be¬ 
cause  redeemed  by  His  precious  blood.  We 
plead  with  thee  O  Mary,  for  the  conver¬ 
sion  of  all  those  who  walk  in  the  darkness 
of  error  and  sin.  Virgin  Mother,  as  thou 
art  called  the:  “Seat  of  Wisdom,”  en¬ 
lighten  the  minds  of  our  separated  breth¬ 
ren,  that  they  may  discover  the  consoling 
truths  of  our  holy  faith,  and  having  dis¬ 
covered  them,  willingly  accept  and  believe 
in  them.  O  Mary,  grant  us  this  wonderful 
favor,  that  all  immortal  souls  ransomed 
by  the  blood  of  thy  dying  Son,  may  soon 
be  united  to  us  by  the  bonds  of  divine 
charity,  so  that  there  may  be  but  one  fold 
and  one  Shepherd.  Amen. 


— 4  6 — 


Prayer  for  Perseverance 

OHOLY  Virgin  Mary,  who  to  inspire  u» 
with  boundless  confidence,  hast  been 
pleased  to  take  the  sweet  name  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help,  I  implore  thee  to  come  to  my 
aid  always  and  everywhere;  in  my  tempta¬ 
tions;  after  my  falls;  in  my  difficulties; 
In  all  the  miseries  of  life;  and  above  all,  at 
the  hour  of  my  death.  Give  me,  loving 
Mother,  the  desire,  nay  more,  the  habit 
always  to  have  recourse  to  thee,  for  I  feel 
assured  that  if  I  invoke  thee  with  fidelity 
thou  wilt  be  faithful  to  come  to  my  as¬ 
sistance.  Obtain  for  me  then,  this  grace 
of  graces,  the  grace  to  pray  to  thee  with¬ 
out  ceasing,  and  with  childlike  prayer  that 
I  may  ensure  thy  perpetual  help  and  final 
perseverance.  O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help, 
pray  for  me  now  and  at  the  hour  of  my 
death.  Amen. 

Prayer  of  St.  Alphonsus,  to  be  Recited 
Every  Day  During  No  vena 

MOST  holy  and  Immaculate  Virgin  and 
my  Mother  Mary,  to  thee,  who  art  the 
Mother  of  my  Lord,  the  Queen  of  the  world, 
the  advocate,  the  hope,  and  the  refuge  of 
sinners,  I  have  recourse  today,  I  who  am 
the  most  miserable  of  all.  I  render  thee 
my  most  humble  homages,  O  great  Queen; 
and  I  thank  thee  for  all  the  graces  thou 
hast  conferred  on  me  until  now;  particu¬ 
larly  for  having  delivered  me  from  hell. 


—47— 


which  I  have  so  often  deserved.  I  love 
thee,  O  most  amiable  Lady;  and  for  the 
love  which  I  bear  thee,  I  promise  to  serve 
thee  always,  and  to  do  all  in  my  power  to 
make  others  love  thee  also.  I  place  in  thee 
all  my  hopes,  I  confide  my  salvation  to  thy 
care.  Accept  me  for  thy  servant,  and  re¬ 
ceive  me  under  thy  mantle,  O  Mother  of 
mercy.  And  since  thou  art  so  powerful 
with  God,  deliver  me  from  all  temptations, 
or  rather  obtain  for  me  strength  to  tri¬ 
umph  over  them  until  death.  Of  thee  I 
ask  a  perfect  love  of  Jesus  Christ.  From 
thee  I  hope  to  die  a  good  death.  O  my 
Mother,  by  the  love  which  thou  bearest  to 
God,  I  beseech  thee,  to  help  me  at  all 
times,  but  especially  at  the  last  moments 
of  my  life.  Leave  me  not,  I  beseech  thee, 
until  thou  seest  me  safe  in  heaven,  bless¬ 
ing  thee  and  singing  thy  mercy  for  all 
eternity.  So  I  hope.  So  may  it  be.  Amen. 

Twelve  Invocations  to  Our  Lady  of  Per¬ 
petual  Help 

V. — O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  thou 
whose  very  name  inspires  confidence. 
R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  be  victorious,  in  the  trying 
hour  of  temptation. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  quickly  rise  again  should 
I  have  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  sin. 
R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  break  asunder  any  bonds 


—48— 


of  Satan,  in  which  I  may  become  en¬ 
tangled. 

R. — Help  me,  0  loving  Mother. 

V. — Against  the  seductions  of  the  world, 
evil  companions  and  bad  books. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  soon  return  to  my  former 
fervor,  should  I  ever  become  luke* 
warm. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — In  my  preparation  for  the  sacraments 
and  the  performance  of  my  Christian 
duties. 

R, — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — In  all  the  trials  and  troubles  of  life. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — Against  my  own  inconstancy,  that  I 
may  persevere  to  the  end. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  ever  love  and  serve  thee 
and  always  invoke  thy  assistance. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — That  I  may  be  able  to  induce  others 
to  love,  serve  and  pray  to  thee. 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 

V. — O  Mother  to  my  last  hour  to  my  last 
breath, do  thou  ever — 

R. — Help  me,  O  loving  Mother. 


—49— 


Monthly  Act  of  Consecration  to  Our  Lady 
of  Perpetual  Help 

I,  DESIRING  to  consecrate  myself  entirely 
to  the  service  of  the  ever  Blessed  Vir¬ 
gin  Mary,  from  whom  after  God,  I  expect 
all  help  and  assistance  in  life  and  in  death, 
unite  myself  with  the  members  of  this 
pious  archconfraternity,  which  has  been 
erected  in  honor  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 
Help. 

And  as  my  special  patron  I  choose  the 
glorious  St.  Alphonsus,  that  he  may  obtain 
for  me  a  true  and  lasting  devotion  to  the 
ever  Blessed  Virgin,  who  is  honored  by  so 
sweet  a  name. 

I  promise,  moreover,  to  renew  my  con¬ 
secration  to  the  holy  Mother  of  God  and 
St.  Alphonsus,  on  the  .  .  .day  of  the  month 
or  on  the  Sunday  following,  and  also  to  re¬ 
ceive  the  holy  sacraments.  O  Mother  of 
Perpetual  Help,  receive  me  as  thy  servant, 
and  grant  that  I  may  experience  thy  con¬ 
stant  motherly  assistance.  I  promise  to 
have  recourse  to  thee  in  all  my  spiritual 
and  temporal  necessities.  My  holy  patron 
St.  Alphonsus,  obtain  me  me  an  ardent 
love  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  constancy  in 
invoking  the  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help. 


—50— 


Act  of  Consecration  to  St.  Alphonsus 

OTHOU  most  zealous  doctor  of  the 
Church,  St.  Alphonsus,  I — N.  N. 
though  unworth  to  be  thy  servant,  yet 
emboldened  by  the  goodness  of  thy  heart, 
and  because  of  my  own  great  desire  to 
please  thee,  kneel  before  thee  now  in  the 
presence  of  the  ever  blessed  Trinity,  of  my 
guardian  angel,  and  of  the  whole  host  of 
heaven,  and  choose  thee  for  my  father; 
and,  after  Mary,  for  my  patron  and  pro¬ 
tector,  I  most  solemnly  pledge  myself  to 
be  ever  thy  assiduous  servant  and  to  do 
all  that  I  can  to  make  others  love  thee.  I 
beg  of  thee  then,  of  my  glorious  patron, 
through  the  love  of  Jesus  and  Mary,  to 
receive  me  into  the  number  of  thy  children, 
and  to  watch  over  me  in  all  times  and 
places.  Obtain  for  me  the  grace  to  imi¬ 
tate  thy  virtues,  and  to  advance  daily  on 
the  path  of  Christian  perfection.  Obtain 
for  me  also,  O  my  father,  a  holy  indiffer¬ 
ence  to  creatures,  and  a  tender  and  abid¬ 
ing  devotion  to  the  most  Blessed  Sacra¬ 
ment,  and  to  my  Mother  Mary,  the  spirit 
of  prayer,  and  a  burning  zeal  for  the  salva¬ 
tion  of  souls.  Accept  this  prayer  and  con¬ 
secration  of  myself  to  thy  service.  Be  ever 
nigh  to  assist  me  during  life,  but  especial¬ 
ly  at  the  hour  of  my  death,  that  having 
honored  and  served  thee  on  earth,  I  may 
at  length  be  found  worthy  to  enjoy  with 
thee  the  joys  of  heaven  for  all  eternity. 
Amen. 


—51— 


Ejaculation 


O  Blessed  Alphonsus,  my  beloved 
father,  obtain  for  me  the  grace  to  have  re¬ 
course  to  Mary  in  all  my  necessities. 


Litany  in  Honor  of  Our  Lady  of  Perpetual 

Help 


LORD  have  mercy  on  us. 

Christ  have  mercy  on  us. 
Lord  have  mercy  on  us. 


Christ  hear  us. 

Christ  graciously  hear  us. 

God  the  Father  of  Heaven, 

Have  mercy  on  us. 

God,  the  Son,  Redeemer  of  the  world. 
Have  mercy  on  us. 

God  the  Holy  Ghost 

Have  mercy  on  us. 

Holy  Trinity,  one  God. 

Have  mercy  on  us. 


Holy  Mary. 

Holy  Mother  of  God. 

Holy  Virgin  of  Virgins. 

Mother  of  Christ. 

Queen  conceived  without  the  stain  of 
original  sin. 

Queen  of  the  most  Holy  Rosary. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help, 

O  Mother  of  Perpetual  Help,  whose  very 
name  inspires  confidence. 

That  I  may  love  God  with  all  my  heart. 

That  I  may  in  all  things  conform  my  will 
to  that  of  thy  Divine  Son. 


> — 53 — 


Pray  For  Me 


That  I  may  always  shun  sin,  the  only" 
real  evil, 

That  I  may  always  remember  my  last 
end. 

That  I  may  often  and  devoutly  receive  the 
sacraments. 

That  I  may  avoid  every  proximate  occa¬ 
sion  of  sin. 

That  I  may  never  neglect  prayer. 

That  I  may  ever  remember  to  invoke 
thee,  particularly  in  time  of  tempta¬ 
tion. 

That  I  may  always  be  victorious  in  the 
hour  of  temptation. 

That  I  may  generously  pardon  my  ene¬ 
mies. 

That  I  may  arise  quickly,  should  I  have 
the  misfortune  of  falling  into  mortal 
sin. 

That  I  may  courageously  resist  the  seduc- 
tons  of  evil  companions. 

That  I  may  be  strong  against  my  own 
inconstancy. 

That  I  may  not  delay  my  conversion  from 
day  to  day. 

That  I  may  labor  zealously  to  eradicate 
my  evil  habits. 

That  I  may  ever  love  and  serve  thee. 

That  I  may  lead  others  to  love  and  serve 
thee. 

That  I  may  live  and  die  in  the  friendship 
of  God. 

In  all  necessities  of  body  and  soul. 

In  sickness  and  pain. 

In  poverty  and  distress. 

In  persecution  and  abandonment. 

In  grief  and  dereliction  of  mind. 


—54— 


Pray  For  Me 


In  time  of  war,  famine  and  contagion.  " 

In  every  danger  of  sin. 

When  assailed  by  the  evil  spirits. 

When  tempted  by  the  allurements  of  a 
deceitful  world. 

When  struggling  against  the  inclinations 
of  my  corrupt  nature. 

When  tempted  against  the  holy  virtue  of 
purity. 

When  death  is  nigh. 

When  the  loss  of  my  senses  shall  warn 
me  that  my  earthly  career  is  at  an 
end. 

When  the  thought  of  my  approaching  dis¬ 
solution  shall  fill  me  with  fear  and 
terror. 

When  at  the  decisive  hour  of  death  the 
evil  spirit  will  endeavor  to  plunge 
my  soul  into  despair. 

When  the  minister  of  God  shall  give  me 
his  last  absolution  and  his  last  bless¬ 
ing. 

When  my  friends  and  relations  surround¬ 
ing  my  bed,  moved  with  compassion, 
shall  invoke  thy  clemency  in  my  be¬ 
half. 

When  the  world  will  vanish  from  my 
sight,  and  my  heart  will  cease  to 
beat. 

When  I  shall  yield  my  soul  into  the  hands 
of  its  Creator. 

When  my  soul  will  appear  before  its  Sov¬ 
ereign  Judge. 

When  the  irrevocable  sentences  will  be 
pronounced. 


—55 


Pray  For  Me 


When  I  will  be  suffering  in  Purgatory,  and 
sighing  for  the  vision  of  God. 

Lamb  of  God  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world. 

Spare  us,  O  Lord. 

Lamb  of  God  Who  takest  away  the  sins  of 
the  world, 

Hear  us,  O  Lord. 

Lamb  of  God  Who  takest  away  the  sins  oi 
the  world, 

Have  mercy  on  us,  O  Lord. 


Come  to  my  help,  O  loving  Mother. 

LET  US  PRAY. 

O  Almighty  and  Merciful  God,  Who,  in 
order  to  succor  the  human  race,  has  willed 
the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  to  become  the 
Mother  of  thy  only  begotten  Son,  grant  we 
beseech  Thee,  that  by  her  intercession  we 
may  avoid  the  contagion  of  sin  and  serve 
Thee  with  a  pure  heart  through  the  same 
Christ,  our  Lord.  Amen. 

(An  indulgence  of  100  days,  to  be 
gained  once  a  day,  is  granted  for  the  afore¬ 
said  prav^**  — Rescript  of  May  17,  1866.) 


—56— 


MEDITATION 
Mary  our  Hope 

.  »* *  *Ta  *T»  aT*  *T»  »Ta  aT*  *Ta  ^Ta  aTa  *Ta  *T*  *Ta  aT*  *Xa  *Ta  aT*  *x.  *T»  *Ta  -T.  aT -  *T^  aT*  *T»  aX^ 


OUR  life  on  earth  is  a  warfare,  a  time 
of  many  miseries.  In  our  sorrows, 
sufferings  and  trials,  we  must  imitate 
Jesus  Christ,  and  like  Him  fly  to  our 
Mother  Mary  for  strength  and  comfort  and 
perpetual  help.  Let  this  be  the  resolution 
of  our  novena  to  be  kept  all  the  days  of 
our  life. 

Of  Jesus  Christ,  St.  Paul  wrote:  “For 
in  that  He  himself  hath  suffered  and  been 
tempted  He  is  able  to  succor  them  also 
that  are  tempted.”  To  Mary  too,  it  was 
given  to  suffer  as  Queen  of  martyrs  so 
that  she  might  be  able  to  assist  this  suffer¬ 
ing,  sinful  world.  And  not  only  did  she 
learn  like  Jesus  what  sorrow  and  suffer¬ 
ing  were,  but,  as  Mother  and  comforter  of 
the  Man  of  sorrows,  she  realized  from  ex¬ 
perience  how  to  compassionate  that  poor 
humanity  in  us.  Wherefore  it  was  that 


—57 


the  Creator  and  Father  of  mankind  placed 
in  her  keeping  His  own  divine  Son  in 
Whom  were  all  human  infirmities  except 

sin.  And  when  she  had  proved,  and  oh, 

/ 

how  well! — her  fitness,  her  skill,  her  ten¬ 
derness  in  comforting,  she  was  left  by  her 
dying  Son  to  be  our  Mother,  of  Perpetual 
Help.  “There  stood  by  the  cross”  of 
Jesus  His  Mother  to  comfort  and  console 
Him  as  far  as  it  lay  within  her  power.  It 
was  then  that  Mary’s  sublime  vocation, 

decreed  by  God  from  all  eternity  was  rati- 

% 

tied  by  the  dying  lips  of  her  Son  when  He 
said  to  her:  “Woman  behold  thy  Son!” 
And  to  the  disciple:  “Behold  thy  Mother!” 
giving  the  world  to  Mary  and  Mary  to  the 
world,  to  be  towards  all  men  what  she  had 

always  been  to  Him,  a  Mother  of  Perpetual 
Help. 

O  Jesus  we  thank  Thee  for  all  thou  hast 
suffered  for  us  even  from  Thy  infancy, — 
for  us  so  little  worthy  of  Thy  love  and 
Thy  mercy.  O  Jesus  we  are  grateful  to 
Thee  for  the  gift  of  Thy  own  Mother. 
After  the  gift  of  Thyself  and  Thy  redeem¬ 
ing  blood  the  greatest  Thy  Sacred  Heart 
could  give  us  was  Thy  Mother  to  be  for 
what  she  had  ever  been  to  Thee,  a  Mother 


—58— 


of  Perpetual  Help.  “Mary,”  says  St.  Al- 
phonsus,  “is  all  eyes  to  pity  and  succor  us 
in  our  necessities.”  She  is  the  advocate  of 
even  the  most  miserable  and  abandoned 
who  have  recourse  to  her,  and  she  rejoices 
when  she  consoles  the  miserable.  “O  sin¬ 
ner,”  says  St.  Alphonsus,  “whoever  you 
are,  do  not  despair,  but  have  confidence  in 
this  Lady  with  the  assurance  of  being 
helped,  for  you  will  find  her  with  her 
hands  full  of  mercy  and  of  graces.”  O 
Mother  of  Perpetual  Help  grant  that  we 
may  always  invoke  thy  most  powerful  and 
beautiful  name,  which  is  the  safeguard  of 
the  living  and  the  salvavtion  of  the  dying. 


—59— 


•Churches  and  Cities  Where  the  Con¬ 
fraternity  Has  Been  Canonically 


Established 


Eastern  Cities 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  52  6  59th 
St.,  Sation  C,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

S.  Joseph’s,  108  Franklin  St.,  Roches¬ 
ter,  N.  Y. 

St.  Philomena’s,  1421  Liberty  Ave., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Most  Holy  Redeemer,  173  E.  3rd  St., 
Grand  Central  Station,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

St.  Peter’s,  1019  No.  5th  St.,  Station  S, 
Philadelphia,  Pa. 

St.  Mary’s  258  Pine  St.,  Buffalo,  New 
York. 

St.  Mary’s  Rectory,  Annapolis,  Md. 

St.  Michael’s,  7  S.  Wolfe  St.,  Balti¬ 
more,  Md. 

St.  Alphonsus,  300  West  Broadway, 
Station  S,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

St.  James,  1225  East  Eager  St.,  Balti¬ 
more,  Md. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  1545  Tre- 
mont  St.,  Boston,  Mass. 


—60 — 


St.  Boniface’s,  174  Diamond  St.,  Sta¬ 
tion  O,  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Sacred  Heart,  600  S.  Third  St.,  Balti¬ 
more,  Md. 

St.  Wenceslaus’,  2111  Ashland  Ave., 
Baltimore,  Md. 

St.  Clement’s  College,  P.  O.  Box  436, 
Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y. 

Immaculate  Conception,  3  89  E.  150th 
St.,  Station  R,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  323  E 
61st  St.,  Station  Y,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

St.  Clement’s,  Box  J,  Ephrata,  Lancaster 
Co.,  Pa. 

St.  Gerards,  240  W.  Robb  Ave.,  Lima, 
Ohio. 

Western  Cities 

St.  Alphonsus,  1118  N.  Grand  Ave.,  St. 
Louis,  Mo. 

St.  Alphonsus,  2030  Constance  St.,  New 
Orleans,  La. 

St.  Michael’s,  1633  Cleveland  Ave.,  Chi¬ 
cago,  Ill. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  325  Hunter 
Ave.,  Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Holy  Redeemer,  1721  Junction  Ave., 
Detroit,  Mich. 

St.  Alphonsus,  224  Carrier  St.,  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich. 

St.  Maximus  Church,  Daly  City,  Cal. 


—61— 


St.  Alphonsus,  1429  Wellington  Ave., 
Chicago,  Ill. 

Sacred  Heart,  2315  6th  Ave.,  Seattle, 
Wash. 

St.  Joseph’s  605  West  6th  Ave.,  Den¬ 
ver,  Colo. 

St.  Alphonsus,  2  618  Boies  Ave.,  Daven¬ 
port,  Iowa. 

Holy  Redeemer,  261  East  Portland 
Blvd.,  Portland,  Oregon. 

St.  Alphonsus,  3  07  Kearney  Ave.,  Fres¬ 
no,  Cal. 

St.  Gerard’s,  1617  Iowa  St.,  San  An¬ 
tonio,  Texas. 

St.  Thomas,  919  Indiana  Ave.,  Coeur 
d’Alene,  Idaho. 

Holy  Name,  3014  No.  45th  St.,  Omaha, 
Nebraska. 

St.  Joseph’s  144  S.  Milwood  Avenue, 
Wichita,  Kansas. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  2191  Ne¬ 
braska  St.,  San  Antonio,  Texas. 

St.  Mary’s  211  So.  Newlin  Ave.,  Whit¬ 
tier,  Los  Angeles  Co.,  California. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  1108  W. 
32nd  St.,  Oklahoma  City,  Okla. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  Albany, 
Oregon. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  8416 
Foothill  Blvd.,  Oakland,  Cal. 


-62—- 


St.  Joseph’s  405  E.  South  St.,  Lebanon, 
Indiana. 

St.  Anthony’s,  6  07  W.  Seminole  Ave., 
Okmulgee,  Oklahoma. 


Canadian  Cities 

St.  Patrick’s  141  McCaul  St.,  Toronto, 
Canada. 

St.  Peter’s,  St.  John,  North,  New  Bruns¬ 
wick,  Canada. 

St.  Patrick’s  250  Grand  Allee,  Quebec, 
Canada. 

St.  Ann’s,  33  Basin  St.,  Montreal, 
Canada. 

St.  Patrick’s  1245  Dundas  St.,  Sub  Sta¬ 
tion,  4,  London,  Ont.,  Canada. 

St.  Alphonsus,  341  Monroe  Ave.,  East 
Kildonan,  Manitoba,  Canada. 

Redemptorist  Fathers,  2140  Cameron 
St.,  Regina,  Saskatchewan,  Canada. 

St.  Gerard’s,  Box  696,  Yorkton,  Saskat¬ 
chewan,  Canada. 

Our  Lady  of  Perpetual  Help,  375  6  Sixth 
Ave  W.,  Vancouver,  B.  C.,  Canada. 

St.  Alphonsus,  11828  85th  St.,  Edmon¬ 
ton,  Alberta,  Canada. 


—63— 


